John Ruskin
Books by John Ruskin
“A lot of those ideas about the Gothic, Ruskin cuts in Venice. He spends a lot of time drawing and measuring. He’s very careful, trying to tabulate the world. He has a lot of ideas about when arches became Byzantine, and when they became Romanesque. He is quite often quite wrong. But the idea is a powerful one, that Venice, as a Gothic city, is an act for good. His ideas then have a tremendous life in diaspora, particularly around Britain. You get buildings like Templeton Carpet Factory in Glasgow, the Meadows building at Christ Church, or St. Pancras station in London. There are a number of buildings that use the language of Venice in English architecture. It is a political thing, it is saying, ‘This is how you do good.’” Read more...
Matthew Rice, Artists & Art Critic
On Art and Life
by John Ruskin
He had the idea that mass-produced items were un-Christian and diminished the soul of man.
Interviews where books by John Ruskin were recommended
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The best books on Venice, recommended by Matthew Rice
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